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Medicaid
Medicaid is the joint state and federal program that provides health care assistance for the impoverished. For most elder caregivers, the Medicaid program is important to underestand because it covers long-term nursing home care for those who cannot afford to pay for care themselves.
Seniors and caregivers who act on rumors, half-truths, and flat out wrong advice can find themselves disqualified from desperately needed Medicaid assistance.
In this department we aim to give you the most current information about Medicaid that we can find, and we give you the resources you need to make the best possible decisions.
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Risks When Assisted Living Residences Take Medicaid
With the help of Medicaid Ginny lived happily at her assisted living residence for 18 months. Then one day she received an official notice that her facility was withdrawing from the Medicaid program in favor of private-pay only. Ginny had 30 days to find another assisted living facility that would accept her Medicaid. Unfortunately, there were more people in her situation than there were other local subsidized openings. Ginny and many of the other Medicaid residents from her assisted living ended up with no option but to move into a nursing home . . . keep reading
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Will Medicaid Throw Family Caregivers Out of the Family Home?
Sharon and her husband moved into her father's home more than seven years ago. It seemed like the reasonable thing to do, as Sharon's father didn't have the funds to pay for the help he needed, but he had the space. Sharon and her husband wanted to move from their tiny apartment, but they couldn't afford a house. Now Sharon's father has had to move to a nursing home and apply for Medicaid to help with the cost. Sharon is frightened that they will lose their only home to Medicaid . . . keep reading
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PACE: The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
How many seniors who can no longer get along without regular assistance would benefit from a program that provided medical oversight by doctors and nurses experienced in caring for the elderly, physical and occupational therapy on site, daily recreational opportunities, social services, personal care and homemaker services, nutritional counseling, a day program with meals, and transportation to get there and back home every day? . . . keep reading
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Why "Medicaid Pending" Can Mean Trouble When You Need a Nursing Home
BJ did everything right for her mother. She made sure her mother had long term care insurance, she consulted with an eldercare attorney about eventually qualifying for Medicaid legally and ethically, she managed Mom's money well and kept her "at home" in assisted living as long as possible. Now that the money is gone and her mother needs nursing home care, why won't any "decent" nursing homes accept her? . . . keep reading
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Can a Nursing Home Take Your House?
One of the biggest fears seniors and their families have is,"Will the nursing home take my house if I need to go into a nursing home?" There are so many fears, so many questions, and so much mis-information about what could happen to the family home if a senior has to apply for Medicaid assistance for long-term care. . . . keep reading
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When a Senior Has Too Much Income For Medicaid
Even when John has used up all his resources he still won't qualify for help from Medicaid in his state. At about $4,000, his monthly income is over the Medicaid limit. What do people do when they have too much income to qualify for Medicaid, and not enough income to pay for care, which can exceed $10,000 per month in some places? . . . keep reading
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Medicaid Pays Some Families to Give Care
Participants receive a monthly cash allowance based on their assessed needs. They are free to decide what services they want to receive, and they are free to purchase services from either a licensed agency or private caregivers of their choice...even family members. They can even purchase products or services that are not usually covered by Medicaid, such as home appliances, safety equipment or transportation. . . . keep reading
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What is "Spending Down" for Medicaid?
Medicaid takes a figurative "snapshot" of an individual's countable assets on the first day of the first month that an individual enters a medical facility for an extended stay. This is the amount which must either be divided between a married couple, be "spent down," or both in order for the institutionalized person to qualify for Medicaid. . . . keep reading
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What Do You Need For a Medicaid Application?
Many caregivers know that they will one day be making application for Medicaid financial assistance on behalf of a senior. While everyone knows that there will be application forms to complete when the time comes, few know what supporting documents must be submitted with the completed application. The list is long, and not always easy to assemble when you're pressed for time. . . . keep reading
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Improved Nursing Home Quality Ratings
On December 18, 2008 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the "Five Star Quality Rating System." Nursing homes are given an easy-to-understand overall "star" rating based on facility performance on three types of performance measures: Health Inspections, Staffing, and Quality Measures. . . . keep reading
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Admitting Your Parent to a Nursing Home
Making the decision for nursing home care for a parent is often an emotional and exhausting experience. You will be worried about the kind of care your parent will get and his emotional reaction to the move. One of the last things you want to worry about is the paperwork, but the nursing home contract is one of the most important things you should pay attention to. . . . keep reading
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Medicaid and Saving Assets
Some of the more common steps many families have taken when an elderly loved one has had some assets and yet needed to begin thinking about qualifying for Medicaid and moving to a nursing home. . . . keep reading
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What is a Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN)?
Most health insurance programs will cover some or all of the cost of necessary durable medical equipment. Because this equipment is expensive, and it is often needed for months, if not years, insurance companies want to be sure that this medical equipment is really necessary. It's not unheard of for patients or their families to want certain equipment more for convenience than because they truly need it to treat or manage a medical need. Insurance companies hate that. . . . keep reading
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Living Trusts and Medicaid
The Government will not dip into your Living Trust to pay for long-term care, but this doesn't mean you won't have to use your assets to pay for care if you have a living trust. . . . keep reading
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Alzheimers Disease
